Apparatus and method of simulating a somatosensory experience in space
OwnerQuan Xiaoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of providing a user with an extra-terrestrial somatosensory experience includes equipping the user with an underwater breathing apparatus, having the user occupy an underwater environment, such environment providing buoyancy to the user, and while the user occupies the underwater environment, using a computer-implemented virtual reality system to present to the user a virtual reality environment modeling an extra-terrestrial setting. The virtual reality system inhibits visual perception by the user of items outside of the virtual reality environment so that the user experiences the virtual reality environment under a buoyancy condition provided by the underwater environment. The buoyancy condition enhances the experience of the virtual reality environment.
Claims32
A method of providing a user with an extra-terrestrial somatosensory experience, the method comprising:
- equipping the user with an underwater breathing apparatus;
- having the user occupy an underwater environment, such environment providing buoyancy to the user;
- and
- while the user occupies the underwater environment, using a computer-implemented virtual reality system to present to the user a virtual reality environment modeling an extra-terrestrial setting, the virtual reality system inhibiting visual perception by the user of items outside of the virtual reality environment, wherein using a computer-implemented virtual reality system includes having the user don a head-mounted display system, such display system including at least one sensor to identify at least one position of the user's head, wherein the display system and the sensors form a part of the computer-implemented virtual reality system;
- so that the user experiences the virtual reality environment under a buoyancy condition provided by the underwater environment, such buoyancy condition enhancing experience of the virtual reality environment.
A method of providing a user with an extra-terrestrial somatosensory experience, the method comprising:
- equipping the user with an underwater breathing apparatus;
- having the user occupy an underwater environment, such environment providing buoyancy to the user;
- and
- while the user occupies the underwater environment, using a computer-implemented virtual reality system to present to the user a virtual reality environment modeling an extra-terrestrial setting, the virtual reality system inhibiting visual perception by the user of items outside of the virtual reality environment, wherein using a computer-implemented virtual reality system includes having the user don a head-mounted display system, such display system including at least one motion tracking sensor for tracking the user's head movement, wherein the display system and the sensors form a part of the computer-implemented virtual reality system;
- so that the user experiences the virtual reality environment under a buoyancy condition provided by the underwater environment, such buoyancy condition enhancing experience of the virtual reality environment.
A method of providing a user with an extra-terrestrial somatosensory experience, the method comprising:
- equipping the user with an underwater breathing apparatus;
- having the user occupy an underwater environment, such environment providing buoyancy to the user;
- while the user occupies the underwater environment, using a computer-implemented virtual reality system to present to the user a virtual reality environment modeling an extra-terrestrial setting, wherein using a computer-implemented virtual reality system includes providing a virtual reality display on at least one surface in the underwater environment, the virtual reality system inhibiting visual perception by the user of items outside of the virtual reality environment;
- and
- using floating light absorbing materials positioned on an upper surface of the underwater environment to block or substantially reduce light from outside of the underwater environment from entering the underwater environment or light from inside the underwater environment from being reflected on the upper surface;
- so that the user experiences the virtual reality environment under a buoyancy condition provided by the underwater environment, such buoyancy condition enhancing experience of the virtual reality environment.
A method of providing a user with a somatosensory experience simulating that of a person in space, the method comprising:
- having the user don (i) a head-mounted display system, such display system including at least one sensor to identify at least one of position and motion of the user's head, and (ii) underwater breathing apparatus;
- having the user occupy an underwater environment, such environment providing buoyancy to the user;
- and
- while the user occupies the underwater environment, supplying a virtual reality video input to the head-mounted display system, such video input being dynamically modified in accordance with at least one of position or motion of the user's head as determined by the at least one sensor;
- so that the user experiences virtual reality video through the head-mounted display under a buoyancy condition provided by the underwater environment, such buoyancy condition enhancing experience of the virtual reality environment.
A virtual reality apparatus for providing a user with an extra-terrestrial somatosensory experience, the apparatus comprising:
- an underwater environment in which the user may be immersed wherein the underwater environment includes floating light absorbing materials positioned on an upper surface of the underwater environment to block or substantially reduce light from outside of the underwater environment from entering the underwater environment or light from inside the underwater environment from being reflected on the upper surface;
- and
- a computer-implemented virtual reality system that presents to the user a virtual reality environment within the underwater environment, the virtual reality environment modeling an extra-terrestrial setting, and inhibiting visual perception by the user of items outside of the virtual reality environment, wherein the computer-implemented virtual reality system includes an external display in the underwater environment providing a visual display of the virtual reality environment.
A virtual reality apparatus for providing a user with an extra-terrestrial somatosensory experience, the apparatus comprising:
- an underwater environment in which the user may be immersed;
- and
- a computer-implemented virtual reality system that presents to the user a virtual reality environment within the underwater environment, the virtual reality environment modeling an extra-terrestrial setting, and inhibiting visual perception by the user of items outside of the virtual reality environment, wherein the computer implemented virtual reality system includes:
- a head-mounted display system, such display system including at least one sensor to identify at least one of position and motion of the user's head, wherein the display system and the sensor form a part of the computer-implemented virtual reality system, the head-mounted display system integrated with an underwater breathing apparatus for use by the user, operative in the underwater environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.